Apparatus for filling collapsible containers



March 5, 1957 c. F. CARTER APPARATUS FOR FILLING COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINERS2 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 19, 1955 Y4 CUl/M 78 3 8 RELIEF VALVE RELIEFVALVE IN VENTOR RELIEF VALVE Ularekwe Carter n w/41, 9 yaw.

ATTORNEYS March 5, 1957 c. F. CARTER 2,783,786

APPARATUS FOR FILLING COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINERS Filed Oct. 19 1955 2Sheets-Sheet 2 MATERIAL INVENTON UlarenceE Carfier ATTORNEYS UnitedStates Patent APPARATUS FOR FILLING COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINERS Clarence F.Carter, Danville, ll

Application October 19, 1955, Serial No. 541,332

' Claims. 61.141-51 This invention relates generally to a fillingmachine for collapsible containers. More specifically, the invention isdirected to a machine for filling flexible walled containers of thegeneral type having a lifting ring and a material inlet opening in thetop thereof and provided with a material outlet opening in the bottomthereof, and wherein the material is discharged into, the containerunder the influence of vacuum to withdraw entrained air from thematerial during filling.

The handling of various liquids and particulate mate rials, which arellowable like a fluid, and transporting such materials in bulk has beenthe subject of considerable study. To a large extent, industries usingmaterials in their operations which are ordered in quantity have, as tothe liquid materials, had the liquids shipped to them in steel drums orother rigid containers. Similarly, dry particulate materials have, forthe most part, been handled and shipped in drums or bags made of paperor other substance impervious to the particular material being shipped.

To facilitate the handfin-g and shipping of fluids and particulatematerials in bulk, there has recently been developed a flexible walledcontainer made in sizes ranging-from a size corresponding to theSS-gallon steel drum up to containers designed to hold,2,5i)0 gallons.These containers are made of plies of synthetic rubber and cord fabricwhich form the walls of the container, much in the manner as employed inthe production of automobile tires. By providing a neoprene interior andexterior, this type. of container is made highly resistant to aging dueto exterior weather conditions or attack by gasoline, oils, greases ortemporary contact with corrosive chemicals. For reinforcement of thecontainer construction, a flexible cable is connected between the topand bottom thereof to provide optimum dimensional stability andload-carrying capacity.-

One, of-the advantages attributable to the type of container asdescribed above is the fact that the material transported therein isfully enclosed during shipment and handling. The containers are providedwith material inlet opening in the top wall thereof and a materialoutlet opening in the bottomwal-l. A lifting ring is mounted in the topwall and connected wit-h the flexible cable extending through theinterior of the container so that during filling and emptying the,container may be suspended from the lifting ring.

Obviously, in filling these containers with liquid materials, the liquidcan flow freely into the container. However, problems have beenencountered in securing the desired degree of filling of thesecontainers with particulate materials which, although they have thecharacteristic of flowing like fluids, also tend to become fluify byreason of air entrained between the material particles. Additionally,many finely divided particulate. materials tendto pack so that underpresently known methods continuous agitation of the material isnecessary to maintain flow into the container being filled.

Recognizing the problems encountered in the filling of collapsibleflexible walled containers as described above, the instant invention hasbeen developed to overcome such problems and enable rapid filling ofsuch containers with particulate materials, such filling beingaccomplished by employing a vacuum to withdraw entrained air from thematerial during filling.

I t is an object of: this invention to provide an improved apparatus forfilling collapsible containers which includes a container enclosing,shroud, a material tube and air withdrawal conduits with seal means onsaid tube and said conduits to cooperate with openings of the containerto provide air-tight seals at the points of entrance of .said tube andsaid conduits into the container.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a filling apparatusincluding a container-enclosing shroud, material supply tube and airWithdrawal conduits extending through and yieldably mounted with respectto said shroud, and a container hanger mounted in said shroud, saidmaterial supply tube and air withdrawal conduits being engageable withopenings in the top of the container and a lifting ring on the containerengageable with said hanger.

it is a further object of the instant invention to provide a fillingapparatus as recited in the above object with the material supply tubeand air withdrawal conduits having encircling inflatable seals whichupon inflation cooperate with openings in the top wall of such containerto form air-tight seals at their points of entrance into the container.

The above and other more specific objects of the instant invention willbe clearly apparent byreference to the hereinafter set forth descriptionof 'a particular embodiment of the invention as illustrated by theaccompanying drawings. it will be recognized that the structure shown onthe drawings is merely illustrative of one embodiment embracing thefeatures of the instant invention and that within the scope of theappended claims, other structures and modifications are contemplatedwithin the scope of the instant invention. Referring to the drawingsFigure l is a plan View of the filling apparatus showing, in phantomview, the shroud access door in its. open position;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 22 of Figure l; and

as shown in phantom view in Figure l for the introducti-on of acollapsible container tobe filled. A suitable latch 15 is provided onaccess door 13 to engage with a pin 16 on the housing 12' for holdingthe door closed. Seal elements 17 are provided at the junction of door13 with housing 12, one of such elements being secured along the inneredge of housing 12 and the other secured to the outer edge of door 13 toenclose the junction when the door is closed. A suitable door actuatinghydraulic cylinder 18 may be provided connected between housing 12 andan arm 19 extending outwardly from hinge 14.

As a part of the fillingoperation employed in utilization of the fillingmachine, a vacuum is produced within the shroud l0 exteriorl-y of thecontainer being filled. As shown in Figure 2, a vacuum line; 20communicates through the housing 12 of shroud 109211141 leads to asuitable source of vacuum (not shown). A pneumatic. dia- Phr sa valve isterpo d ac umlin 29 to nable selective control of the application orvacuum or low pressure to the shroud interior. Also, as shown moreclearly in Figure 2, a relief valve 22 is provided to controlcommunication of the shroud interior with atmospheric pressure exteriorof the shroud. This valve preferably is of the pneumatic diaphragm type,similar to valve 21.

The internal structure of the pneumatic diaphragm valves illustrated onthe drawings has not been illustrated since it forms no part of theinstant invention. From the standpoint of the invention involved herein.any suitable form of valve may be employed which can operated toeffectively regulate the flow of a gaseous fluid therethrough.

The top wall of housing 12 which forms a portion of shroud has mountedthereon a hanger 25 which extends downwardly into the shroud interior tocooperate with the lifting ring on the container to be filled so thatsuch container will be suspended within the shroud during filling, aswill be described in detail hereinafter.

The top wall of housing 12 is also provided with apertures through whicha material supply tube 26 and a pair of air withdrawal conduits 27 and28 extend. Tube 26 and conduits 27 and 28 are yieldably mounted withreference to shroud 10 so as to be movable to a limited degree with thecontainer as it is filled.

Figure 3 illustrates the details of the mounting of tube 26 and conduit27. Thus, on tube 26 a resilient sleeve 30 is held by a ring 31 inairtight engagement with the exterior of the tube while the lower end ofsleeve 34} engages the exterior of a tubular projection 32 mounted onhousing 12. Similarly, as to conduit 27, there is provided a resilientsleeve 35 held on the exterior of the conduit by ring 36 and engagingwith the exterior of a tubular projection 37 which, in turn, is securedon housing 12. It will be appreciated that a similar yieldablc mountingof conduit 28 relative to housing 12 is provided.

Referring further to Figure 3, there is shown thereon a pneumaticcut-otf valve 40 mounted: within material supply tube 26. This valve maytake the form as disclosed in my prior Patent 2,687,145, and includes arubber sleeve 41 centrally mounted within the tube 26 and expandible byapplication of fluid pressure internally thereof. This fluid pressure isapplied through a pipe 42 so that sleeve 41 will expand to engage withthe inner wall of the tube 26, thereby completely closing the tube.

The exterior of the downwardly facing outlet of tube 26, through whichthe particulate material is dispensed into the container being filled,is provided with a seal element 45. This element is made up of aresilient sleeve 46 held in a groove 47 formed in the exterior surfaceof tube 26 by a rigid ring 48. Ring 48 is apertured at 49 to providecommunication between the underside of sleeve 46 and passage 50 throughwhich air under pressure is applied from a pipe 51 to expand sleeve 46in performing its sealing function as will be described.

Both air withdrawal conduits 27 and 28 are provided with screens at thelower open ends thereof, the screen Conduits of conduit 27 being shownat on Figure 3. 27 and 28 are also provided with seal elements similarto that shown on tube 26 .at 45. Againreferring to Fi ure 3, the sealelement on the air Withdrawal conduits includes a resilient sleeve 66held in a groove 67 formed in the exterior of the conduit with theresilient sleeve being held in place by a rigid ring 68. Ring 68 isapertured at 69 to communicate with a passage 70 so that air pressureapplied through a pipe 71 will expand sleeve 66 to perform its scalingfunction.

As shown more clearly on Figure 2, conduits 27 and 28 t are connected toa suitable source of vacuum with a pneumatic diaphragm valve 75 providedto control the application of vacuum through conduit 27 and a pneumaticdiaphragm valve 76 mounted to enable regulation of vacuum appliedthrough conduit 28. Also, a pneumatic diaphragm valve 77 is provided tocontrol communication of conduit 27 with atmospheric pressure and apneumatic diaphragm valve 78 similarly disposed with respect to conduit28 to control communication between such conduit and atmosphericpressure.

Reference will now be had to the construction of the collapsiblecontainer for the filling of which the instant invention is particularlyadapted. The collapsible container identified at C on Figure 2 isconstructed of laminations of synthetic rubber and cord fabric unitedmuch in the manner as employed in the manufacture of automobile tirecasings. As shown on the drawing, a D- ring 34) is mounted at the top ofthe container to facilitate handling of the container. Flexible cables81 are connected to D-ring and extend downwardly through the interior ofthe container C with the lower ends thereof connected to fasteners 82secured to the bottom of the container C. A material outlet opening 83is provided at the bottom of the container so that such container may bereadily emptied by suspending the container from D- ring 30 and removingthe plug from outlet opening 83 to permit the contents to drain bygravity from the container. In emptying containers which are filled witheither liquids or particulate material, the flexible walled containermay be allowed to collapse as the material flows therefrom or, ifdesired, one of the openings in the top of the container may be openedto provide a vent admitting air as the contents drain from thecontainer.

In the embodiment as shown on the drawings, the top of container C isprovided with three openings which are generally sealed by suitableplugs during handling and shipping of the container. The largest of suchopenings provides a material inlet and is provided, as shown on Figure3, with a fitting 84 through which the downwardly facing outlet end oftube 26 extends when the container is mounted in position for filling.The other two openings in the top of the container are provided withsimilar fittings 85 which receive the air withdrawal conduits 27 and 28.

The position of a collapsible container for filling by utilization ofthe hereinabove described apparatus will be appreciated by reference toFigures 2 and 3 of the drawings. In positioning the container within theshroud for filling, the container is generally provided with aboutone-half pound per square inch inflating pressure to maintain it in itsfully opened condition. In this state, plugs are engaged with thefittings 84 and 85 to retain the inflating air within the container.

With the shroud access door 13 open, the D-ring 80 of the container isengaged with hanger 25 to suspend the container within the shroud. Theplugs are removed from fittings 84 and 85 and such fittings positionedso that tube 26 and conduits 27 and 28 extend therethrough in the manneras shown in Figure 3. The seal elements 45 and 65 are then actuated bythe application of air pressure through pipes 51 and 71 so that suchelements will sealingly engage with the respective fittings 84 and 85.Thus, the annular spaces intermediate the respective tube 26 andconduits 27 and 28, and fittings 84 and 85 are closed to provide anair-tight seal at the points of entry of tube 26 and conduits 27 and 28into container C. With the container C so mounted within the shroud,shroud access door 13 is closed and fastened by latch 50.

To effect the actual filling, by dispensing the particulate materialinto the container, shroud relief valve 22 is closed and valve 21 openedto create a vacuum within the shroud and exteriorly of the container C.The valve 75 in conduit 27 is opened, with relief valve 77 closed, toevacuate the container C, withdrawing air through screen 60. At theinitial instance of commencing withdrawal of air through conduit 27,relief valve 78 is maintained open with valve 76 closed to permit asurge of air to flow through conduit 28 and clean the screen in theconduit which may have become clogged with particulate material duringthe preceding container filling operation. Material supply valve 40 isopened by release of pressure through pipe 42 so that rubber sleeve 41contracts. Valve 78 is then closed and, as the pressure within thecontainer is reduced, the material'- is induced to flow from a supplyhopper (not shown) through tube 26 and into container C. Upon completionof the filling of container C, vacuum valve 75 is closed and reliefvalve 77 may be momentarily opened to allow an inrush of air throughconduit 27 and its screen 60 to clean such screen preparatory to thenext succeeding filling operation.

Particularly in the larger sized containers and/ or where finely dividedparticulate material is being dispensed, it may be desirable to filleach container by dispensing thereinto a series of increments. Incarrying out the filling operation in accordance with this incrementfilling concept, valve 75 will be maintained open for a periodsuflicient to draw an increment of material into the container whichwill partially fill such container. Then valve 75 will be closed andvalve 76 opened, accompanied by momentary opening and closing of reliefvalve 77. The vacuum within the container is momentarily diminished byan inrush of air through valve 77, such air serving to clean screen 60of any particulate material which may have become lodged thereon indrawing the initial increment of material into the container. The vacuumwithin the container will be maintained by withdrawal of air throughconduit 28 and valve 76 so that after closure of relief valve 77 asecond increment of material will be drawn into the container. After thesecond increment has been drawn in, valve 76 will be closed and valve 75reopened, accompanied by momentary opening of relief valve 78. Thus, airflowing in through valve 78 will clean the screen of conduit 28 and onlymomentarily diminish the vacuum within container C as air iscontinuously withdrawn through conduit 27 and valve 75.

This cycle of operations is repeated for the requisite number of timesuntil the total of the increments discharged into the containercompletely fill the container. In each cycle of operations switchingover from air withdrawal conduit 27 to air withdrawl conduit 28 or viceversa, preferably the material supply valve 40 is closed to positivelyterminate the flow of material into the container for each fillincrement. More specific details of an incremental filling method whichmay be employed in connection with the instant invention are disclosedin my co-pending application Serial No. 504,488, filed April 28, 1955.

After the container has been filled to the desired degree the materialsupply valve 40 will be closed. The shroud vacuum valve 21 is thenclosed and relief valve 22 opened to return the shroud pressure toatmosphere. Access door 13 may then be opened and, with the pressureseal elements 45 and 65 released, the container C removed from theshroud by disengaging D-ring 80 from hanger 25.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. A machine for filling collapsible containers comprising a containerenclosing shroud having an access door to permit introduction into theshroud of the container to be filled, valve means connected with saidshroud to enable placing said shroud in communication with a source ofvacuum or atmospheric pressure, a material supply tube extending throughan opening in the top of said shroud, yieldable coupling means betweensaid tube and the shroud opening to provide a fluid-tight jointtherebetween while permitting limited movement of said tube relative tosaid shroud, a material supply valve in said tube, a seal elementencircling the discharge end of said tube and operable to sealinglyengage with the material inlet opening of a container positioned in saidshroud for filling, an air withdrawal conduit extending through a secondopening in the top of said shroud and having a screen member disposedacross the outlet end thereof, yieldable coupling means between saidconduit and the shroud opening through which it extends to provide afluid-tight joint therebetween while permitting limited movement of saidconduit relative to said shroud, a seal element encircling the outletend of said conduit and operable to sealingly engage with an airwithdrawal opening of a. container positioned in said shroud forfilling, and valve means connected with said conduit to enable placingsaid conduit in communication with a source of vacuum or atmosphericpressure.

2. A machine for filling collapsible containers as recited in claim 1wherein each of said seal elements includes a resilient sleeve and apassage communicating with the underside of said sleeve whereby airunder pressure applied through said passage will inflate said sleeve.

3. A machine for filling collapsible containers comprising a containerenclosing shroud having an access door to permit introduction into theshroud of the container to be filled, valve means connected with saidshroud to enable placing said shroud in communication with a source ofvacuum or atmospheric pressure, a material supply tube extending throughan opening in the top of said shroud, yieldable coupling means betweensaid tube and the shroud opening to provide a fluid-tight jointtherebetween while permitting limited movement of said tube relative tosaid shroud, a material supply valve in said tube, a seal elementencircling the discharge end of said tube and operable to sealinglyengage with the material inlet opening of a container positioned in saidshroud for filling, air withdrawal conduits extending through otheropenings in the top of said shroud and each having a screen memberdisposed across the outlet end thereof, yieldable coupling means betweeneach of said conduits and the shroud opening through which it extends toprovide a fluid-tight joint therebetween while permitting limitedmovement of said conduits relative to said shroud, a seal elementencircling the outlet end of each of said conduits and operable tosealingly engage with air withdrawal openings of a container positionedin said shroud for filling, and valve means connected with said conduitto enable placing said conduit in communication with a source of vacuumor atmospheric pressure.

4. A machine for filling flexible walled containers of the type havingseparate material inlet, material outlet and air withdrawal openings anda lifting ring mounted at the top thereof comprising a containerenclosing shroud having an access door to permit introduction of thecontainer to be filled into the shroud, hanger means secured to the topwall of said shroud to engage with the lifting ring on the container forsuspending the container within the shroud during filling, a materialsupply tube extending into said shroud and having a downwardly facingoutlet portion, a screened conduit extending into said shroud and havinga downwardly facing outlet portion, said supply tube and said conduiteach having a seal element encircling the downwardlyfacing outletportion thereof to cooperate with the inlet and air withdrawal openingsof the container, means for actuating the seal elements to seal thepoints of entry of said tube and said conduit into a container suspendedwithin said shroud, means to selectively connect said shroud with asourceof vacuum for evacuating said shroud, and means for applying avacuum through said conduit to evacuate the interior of the containerand withdraw air from the material discharged thereinto through saidmaterial supply tube.

5. A machine for filling flexible walled containers of the type havingseparate material inlet, material outlet and air withdrawal openings anda lifting ring mounted at the top thereof comprising a containerenclosing shroud having an access door for introduction of the containerto be filled into the shroud, hanger means secured to the top wall ofsaid shroud to engage with the lifting ring on the container forsuspending the container within the shroud during filling, a materialsupply tube extending into said shroud and having a downwardly facingoutlet portion, a pair of screened conduits extending into said shroudand having downwardly facing outlet portions, said supply tube and saidconduits each having a seal element encircling the downwardly facingoutlet portion of vacuum for evacuating said shroud, and means forthereof to cooperate with the inlet and air withdrawal applying a vacuumthrough said conduits to evacuate the openings of the container, meansfor actuating the seal interior of the container and Withdraw air fromthe maelements to seal the points of entry of said tube and said terialdischarged thereinto through said material supply conduits into acontainer suspended within said shroud, 5 tube. means to selectivelyconnect said shroud with a source No references cited.

